Note 124 — ON THE CAVE OF THE NYMPHS, IN THE THIRTEENTH BOOK OF THE ODYSSEY.
Thomas Taylor translation
The theological meaning of nectar and ambrosia, is beautifully unfolded by Hermias, in his Scholia on the Phædrus of Plato, published by Ast, Lips. 1810, p. 145, where he informs us, that ambrosia is analogous to dry nutriment, and that, on this account, it signifies an establishment in causes; but that nectar is analogous to moist food, and that it signifies the providential attention of the Gods to secondary natures; the former being denominated, according to a privation of the mortal and corruptible [κατα στερησιν του βροτου και φθαρτου]; but the latter, according to a privation of the funeral and sepulchral [κατα στερησιν του κτεριος ειρημενον και του ταφου]. And when the Gods are represented as energizing providentially, they are said to drink nectar. Thus Homer, in the beginning of the 4th book of the Iliad:
Οι δε θεοι παρ Ζηνι καθημενοι ηγοροωντο Χρυσεῳ εν δαπεδῳ, μετα δε σφισι ποτνια Ηβη Νεκταρ εῳνοχοει· τοι δε χρυσεοις δεπαεσσι Δειδεχατ’ αλληλους, Τρῳων πολιν εισοροωντες. Now with each other, on the golden floor Seated near Jove, the Gods converse; to whom The venerable Hebe nectar bears, In golden goblets; and as these flow round, Th’ immortals turn their careful eyes on Troy.
For then they providentially attend to the Trojans. The possession, therefore, of immutable providence by the Gods is signified by their drinking nectar; the exertion of this providence, by their beholding Troy; and their communicating with each other in providential energies, by receiving the goblets from each other.